Dumping apparatus



Filed NOV. l5, 1965 United States Patent O 3,314,710 DUMPING APPARATUS Charles J. Edeburn, San Bernardino, Calif., assignor to Kaiser Steel Corporation, Oakland, Calif., a corporation of Nevada Filed Nov. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 507,933 6 Claims. (Cl. 294-73) The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for handling material :and more particularly to an improved material handling device for transporting and dumping various materials which can be suspended from a crane, hoist or the like wherein a sling means is at tached in a novel fashion to said material handling device.

Accordingly, it is a primary purpose of the instant invention to provide an improved device for transporting and dumping various materials wherein sling means are attached in a novel fashion to said device for effecting a transport of the device from one station to another station and for tilting or dumping the device upon proper manipulation of the sling means.

These and other purposes land advantages of the instant invention will become more apparent from a review of the following det-ailed description when taken in con junction with the appended drawings, wherein: t

FIG. 1 is la perspective view of a material containing and handling device in a hoisted or `suspended position, wherein certain parts are shown both in solid and dotted lines to indicate various operating positions of the sling means therefor;

FIG, 2 is la side elevational view of the device of FIG. 1 and illustrates the transport position of the device in solid lines and its dump position in dotted lines; 'and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. l with parts removed illustrating details of certain elements of the device of the instant invention.

With further reference to the drawings, a preferred form of a material handling apparatus that can be used in carrying out the teachings of the instant invention generally comprises 'a box-like structure or container 10 preferably made of metal sheet yor plate and 'a hoisting or sling means 12 attach-able thereto for transporting and dumping the container 10. The box-like structure includes opposing sidewalls 14, end walls 16 and 18, and -a bottom 20 made up of metallic sheets or plates welded together and reinforced by rib element-s 24 that can be provid-ed with flanges 26 for use in att-aching rib elements 24 to the metallic sheets or plates.

One lof the end walls, such as end wall 18, projects upwardly and outwardly from its edge-tocdge jointure with the bottom 20. By virtue of this upward and outward projection of wall 18, the sidewalls 14 are formed to include a corresponding lateral extension roughly of triangular configuration to mate with wall 18. One of the upper outer terminal edges 13 of each of these extensions merges with a concavely curved portion 15 at the upper top edge of the sidewall 14. The lower outer terminal edge 13 of the extension of a sidewall 14 is joined to one of the later-al edges of the end wall 13. Consequently, the upper free edge of the end Wall 18 and the yupper convergent side edges of the extensions to the sidewalls 14 cooperate to dene a mouth 22 for dispensing the contents such as bulk materials, scrap metal, e-tc. of

ICC

the container 10 when the container 10 is tilted to a dump position as will become apparent hereinafter.

The sling means 12 and the novel fashion in which sling means are attached to the box-like structure will now be described. The sling means are connected to container 10 by use of corresponding track means 30 preferably aiTixed in the same fashion -to the upper edge of the sidewalls 14. Since each track means 3@ is constructed in the same fashion, a description of one will sulice for both such means. Each track means 30 is advantageously made from a pair of angle members of suitable length which are folded intermediate their lateral edges so as to define upper and lower parallel leg portions 34 and sidewalls 35. Each track means generally corresponds in overall length and contour to the upper edge of the sidewalls 14. The angle members of each track means 30 are advantageously welded in spaced relationship to each other adjacent the upper edge of the sidewalls 14 such that a recess 38 is provided which extends longitudinally between the folded and open ends of the track means 30. The lateral extent of a recess 38 is limited by a sidewall 14 and narrower sections 35 of the angle members. A link member 36 of the sling means 12 and provided with a rwheel 48 is adapted to ride in a recess 38 between the longitudinal ends of a formed track means 30 as shown by the dotted and solid lines in FIG. 1.

Once the movable link 36 is disposed in the recess 38 of a track means 30, the open end of the track means can be closed oif by a stop member 32 of any suitable size and configuration that can be fastened by screws (not shown) or the like in any known manner to ysidewall 14 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. l and 2.- It is evident by virtue of the track means 30 having the same contour as the upper edge of the associated sidewall 10i that the formed or folded end of the track means 30 is disposed at the dispensing mouth section of the container at an elevation relatively higher than at the closed off end thereof. ln other words, the formed track means 3G` with its ends at relatively diierent elevation roughly approximates the shape of a shallow letter I. Such relative difference in elevation is advantageous, as will be apparent hereinafter, in tilting the box-like structure 10.

The sling means 12 connectable to a conventional hook H as shown by dotted lines in FIGS. l and 2 includes movable link members 36, fixed link members 33, pairs of flexible cables 40 and 46 and bale eyelet 42 for engaging the crane hook H.

The one side and bottom `of each link member 33 is partially cut away to facilitate its attachment to the inner surface of an end wall 16 and the outer surface of the flange 26 formed along the zipper and lower edges to the endwall 16 as 'best shown in FIG. 2. The upper exposed portions of the link members 38 are provided with openings through which the ends of cables 4i) are threaded and then locked to the remaining portions of the cables in a well-known manner.

Sling means 12 is further connected to container 1li by aforementioned movable link members 36 each of which comprises a relatively flat blank and an attached wheel 48 of the size and configuration shown in FIG. 3. The upper end 44 of each link member 36 has been formed in any desired manner so as to incline at an acute angle relative to the remaining portion 44 the lower end of which includes a transverse opening 52 therethrough for receiving the hub 5th of the wheel 4S.

Appropriate bearings (not shown) can be used to mount wheel 4S on its hub 50. If `desired the reduced end of hub 50 can be provided with threads for engaging cooperating threads in opening 52 whereby the wheel 48 can be assembled to the link member 36 for relative rotatable movement about the hub or shaft 50 upon threaded engagement between the reduced end of the shaft and the threaded opening 52 as shown in FIG. 3. Once the wheel 48 and shaft 56 are assembled to the associated link member 36 a suitable set screw 57 can be driven into the opening 52 in a suitable manner between the reduced end of the shaft 50 and the portion 44 so as to prevent accidental disconnection `of the shaft 50 from the link member 36.

Although not heretofore mentioned, the interposed bearing can include an outward radial flange at the inner end to prevent binding or excessive frictional contact between adjacent surface portions of the link member 36 and the inner end of the hub to the wheel 4S.

The upper inclined portion 44 to the link member 36 has a transverse opening therethrough. This opening permits the threading therethrough of one end of a cable 46. This end is then secured to the remainder of the cable in a well-known manner while the other end of cable 46 is connected to eyelet 42 along with the other cables 4t). Each cable 46 is connected to eyelet 42 and link 36 in the manner thus described.

With the movable link members 36 and their wheels 48 disposed within their respective track means 36 as aforedescribed, the link members 36 are arranged for relative movement between the ends of their respective track means 30. While the cables 40 and 46 within their own group are of equal length, each of the cables 46 is advantageously of a relatively shorter length than the cables 4t?. Further, all cables 46 and 46 at their upper ends are separately connected to the closed ring or eyelet 42 which in turn is removably connected Vto the hook H of the hoist means 12. Consequently, all cables 40 and 46 in extending upwardly from link members 36 or 38 as aforedescribed converge inwardly to separately connect at their upper ends with the ring 42. In other words, the cables 40 and 46 converge from their lower connection to a common point or apex at ring 42.

When the movable link members 36 are disposed adjacent the mouth or dumping end of the track means 3i) and the ring 42 is engaged by hook H so that cables 46 and 4S are elevated and are taut, the relative proportional lengths of the cables 40 and 46 maintain the box-like structure in a stable upright position for transport of the contents (not shown) therein from one location to any suitable location by hook H attached to a crane or the like. With the boxlike structure in the aforesaid transport position, it is stabilized and inadvertent tilting thereof is prevented by virtue of the movable link members 36 being disposed at the mouth or formed end of the track means 30 since the formed end as aforementioned is at an elevation relatively higher than the closed end of the track means 30.

When it is desired to tilt theA container 10 for dumping the contents through mouth 22, an operator can either manipulate the set of cables 40 and 46 relative to each other so that the link members 36 are moved backwards towards the closed end of the track means 30 or towards stops 32 by a suitable tool or the container 10 can be lowered to the floor of the building housing container 10 whereupon, as the container rests on the floor, links 36 will slide backwards. When the link members 36 move relative to the track means 30 in the direction toward the end wall 16 and past the center of gravity to the structure, whether or not the structure 10 is actually carrying material, the structure becomes unstable in the upright or transport position and automatically tilts to a dump position since cables 40 which are of greater length than cables 46 become relaxed while cables 40 remain taut. If the tilted .structure is carrying material, it is dispensed through the opening 22.

The dump position of the structure 10 is shown by the dotted lines of FIG. 2 wherein the link members 36 are disposed in abutting contact with the stop member 32 and the group of relatively shorter cables 46 actually suspending and connecting the structure 10 to the hoist means 12 while the other set of cables 40 of longer length are partially buckled or exed between their ends. Even though the cables 40 are flexed, they can act as a safety feature in the event one or both of the shorter cables 46 accidentally severs.

To retilt the structure to `an upright position for relling the structure with appropriate contents to be transported or for transport of the emptied structure to another location, the operator can either manipulate the cables 40 and 46 relative to each other so that the link members 36 are disposed again at the formed end of the associated track means 30 or cause the hook H tobe slightly elevated whereupon as the slack in cables 46 is taken up the links 36 will move toward mouth portion 22 of the container. It is also to be understood that so long as the set of cables 46 and their associated links 36 are of the same overall length while being shorter than cables 40 and links 38, they can vary relative to each other. In other words, one link 36 can be longer than another link 36 provided the cable 46 for the longer link 36 is made correspondingly shorter than the cable 46 for shorter link 36.

In addition, it is to be understood that depending upon the overall configuration of the container 10 one track means 3i) could be aixed relative to the container in such a manner that only one cable 46 and associated link 36 need be used in combination with a pair of attached links 3S and their associated cables 4t). Similarly, it is evident that only one cable 40 and its associated attached link 38 need be used in combination with a pair of cables 46 and associated links 36 movably attached in their respective track means 30 as aforedescribed. In any event the container can still be transported in a stable upright position or readily tilted to a dump position whether or not the sling means 12 is modified to be triangulated so that there is only one cable and link associated either with one track means or attached to the wall in combination with the other pair of remaining cables 40 or 46, etc. as the case may be.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention has been shown and described. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the appended claims, wherein:

What is claimed is:

1. A material-handling device of the type described for transporting and dumping materials and provided with a bottorrnends and sides, track means affixed to each of said sides in generally parallel relation to each other, each of said track means comprising a level portion and a raised portion connected to said level portion at an angle thereto, sling means connected to said material handling device and comprising a plurality of flexible cables and links connecting said cables to said device, certain of said links being movably mounted in said track means and others of said links being xedly attached to said device, the upper ends of said cables being connect-able to a cornmon hoisting apparatus and the overall length of the cables affixed to said movable links and said movable links being shorter than the overall length of the cables affixed to said fixed links and said iixed links whereby upon relaxation of the tautness on said last mentioned cables the movable links and the cable attached thereto will be moved to an offbalanced position and effect a tilting of the device.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein all off the cables are interconnected at a common point to said hoisting apparatus.

3. A material handling device comprising a box-like structure for carrying and dumping material and having a. series of interconnected wall elements, a pair of track means, each of said track means being affixed to separate ones of said wall elements disposed in spaced rel-ation to movement between the ends each other and sling means attachable to said box-like structure and comprising a plurality of flexible cables and link means for separately interconnecting the lower ends of the cables to thc structure, certain of said link means being disposed in each of said track means for relative thereof, other of said link means being alxed to at least one of the wall elements, the upper ends of said cables being connectable to a common hoisting means and the cables attached to the link means disposed in said track means being of a shorter length than the cables attached to the other link means such that upon movement of said cables of shorter length towards said other cables an unbalancing and tilting of the box-like structure will be eiected.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said link means disposed in said track means comprises a link member and a Wheel mounted in the track means and connected to said link member.

5. A device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the ends of each track means are at a relatively dilferent elevation. 20

6. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein the relatively higher ends of the track means are disposed adjacent the material dispensing end of the struc-ture.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,351,167 8/1920 Gunn. 2,133,557 10/1938 McNeillie. 3,100,666 8/1963 Henne.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner. G, F. ABRAHAM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE OF THE TYPE DESCRIBED FOR TRANSPORTING AND DUMPING MATERIALS AND PROVIDED WITH A BOTTOM, ENDS AND SIDES, TRACK MEANS AFFIXED TO EACH OF SAID SIDES IN GENERALLY PARALLEL RELATION TO EACH OTHER, EACH OF SAID TRACK MEANS COMPRISING A LEVEL PORTION AND A RAISED PORTION CONNECTED TO SAID LEVEL PORTION AT AN ANGLE THERETO, SLING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE AND COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF FLEXIBLE CABLES AND LINKS CONNECTING SAID CABLES TO SAID DEVICE, CERTAIN OF SAID LINKS BEING MOVABLY MOUNTED IN SAID TRACK MEANS AND OTHERS OF SAID LINKS BEING FIXEDLY ATTACHED TO SAID DEVICE, THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID CABLES BEING CONNECTABLE TO A COMMON HOISTING APPARATUS AND THE OVERALL LENGTH OF THE CABLES AFFIXED TO SAID MOVABLE LINKS AND SAID MOVABLE LINKS BEING SHORTER THAN THE OVERALL LENGTH OF THE CABLES AFFIXED TO SAID FIXED LINKS AND SAID FIXED LINKS WHEREBY UPON RELAXATION OF THE TAUTNESS ON SAID LAST MENTIONED CABLES THE MOVABLE LINKS AND THE CABLE ATTACHED THERETO WILL BE MOVED TO AN OFFBALANCED POSITION AND EFFECT A TILTING OF THE DEVICE. 